17-Year Old Teenager Solves 80-Year Family Mystery During Visit to Auschwitz

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A 17-year-old uncovers the fate of a lost relative, bringing closure to his family after eight decades.

Sometimes, a single moment can bridge generations. For 17-year-old Yuval from the Bronx, that moment came during a trip to Auschwitz, where he uncovered a family mystery that had haunted his relatives for decades.

While touring an exhibition featuring children’s drawings created during the Holocaust, Yuval made a discovery that stunned him: among the displayed names was that of Freddy Popper, his grandfather’s older brother, who had vanished during World War II.

The Missing Piece of History

Freddy’s fate had been a painful mystery in Yuval’s family. Freddy, just 13 at the time, had been separated from his younger brother Michael during the war. Michael, hidden by a Christian family in Slovakia, survived, but Freddy was sent to live with relatives in Budapest, a decision that ultimately led to tragedy.

The relatives Freddy stayed with, his aunt and uncle, took their own lives before the Nazi invasion, hoping their deaths might somehow increase Freddy’s chances of survival. Despite their efforts, Freddy’s story ended at Auschwitz.

For decades, Michael and his family had only rumors to go on. When Michael passed away in 2020, the mystery of Freddy’s fate remained unresolved – until Yuval’s life-altering trip.

A Moment That Stopped Time

Yuval’s mother, Michal Poran, who accompanied him on the trip as part of the Friends of Israel Scouts delegation, described the moment they saw Freddy’s name as “earth-shattering.”

“I couldn’t catch my breath,” she said. “It healed something that’s been broken for generations.”

Michal immediately sent a photo of the name to her mother, Freddy’s niece, bringing an emotional moment of closure to a family torn apart by war.

A Trip with Deep Meaning

Yuval’s journey to Auschwitz wasn’t just another history lesson. It came at a time when his own connection to his Jewish heritage was particularly raw. Just months earlier, in October 2024, the Israel-Hamas conflict had reignited, bringing fresh pain and reflection to many Jewish families worldwide.

“Past and present tragedies intertwined, amplifying the importance of connecting our youth to their heritage,” said Yaniv Biran, CEO of Tzofim North America, the organization that organized Yuval’s trip.

For Yuval, the trip became personal in a way he never expected. Standing at the site of so much pain, he described feeling the presence of his ancestors.

“It was as if my entire family – generations and generations – were standing with me, holding onto me,” he shared.

The Legacy of Freddy’s Story

Yuval’s discovery has not only closed a painful chapter for his family but also inspired him to share his story. He has made it the centerpiece of his college essay, reflecting on how this experience connected him to his family’s past and gave him new insight into the resilience of his heritage.

Though Freddy’s story ended tragically, Yuval believes his grandfather would have been proud.

“It would have been sad,” he said, “but I think he would’ve been proud of me for finding this piece of family history.”

This incredible discovery is a reminder of the enduring power of memory and the importance of preserving history. Yuval’s journey to Auschwitz wasn’t just a trip to the past – it was a journey toward healing and understanding for generations to come.